Bombers taking aggressive approach in retaining potential free agents

So now there are only 21 names on the list of potential free agents, several of them current or former all-stars.

Long before the Winnipeg Blue Bombers season ended, general manager Kyle Walters took a hard look at the lengthy list of free agents and began prioritizing.

The off-season started with 23 names on the list and he’s fully aware it will be impossible to sign all of them, considering the kind of money their agents are requesting.

But Walters didn’t wait long to get the signing started, re-upping offensive linemen Jermarcus Hardrick and Paddy Neufeld just a few days after the season ended.

“I guess it’s being aggressive but let’s prioritize the guys we want to get done as best we can and let’s go after them,” Walters said in his season-ending availability with the media. “Fortunately, Jermarcus and Paddy were on board and the numbers matched up quickly and they wanted to be here and we wanted them to be here and it got done very, very fast.”

So now there are only 21 names on the list of potential free agents, several of them current or former all-stars.

There are names like Chris Randle and T.J. Heath, both strong boundary defensive backs, Moe Leggett, a dominant cover linebacker and defensive end Jamaal Westerman.

There are more offensive linemen, like 2017 all-star Stanley Bryant and 2016 all-star Travis Bond.

“There will be some tough decisions,” Walters said. “It’s impossible to bring everybody back for the amount of money that their agents want.”

After going 12-6 this season but losing the West semifinal to the Edmonton Eskimos last Sunday, the Bombers will want to bring back a big chunk of the core, but will also look to attract some free agents from other teams to fill key positions.

“I anticipate we will get a couple more (free agents) signed between now and the end of the calendar year,” Walters said.

Once they’ve made their decisions on which players to keep, Walters and his management team will turn their attention to league free agency in February. High on the priority list there will be a middle linebacker and perhaps a defensive back or two.

Though the Bombers have lost out in the first round of the playoffs the last two seasons, they do have a 23-13 record since the beginning of 2016. Walters firmly believes the team is close to being a championship-calibre under head coach Mike O’Shea.

“I think the team grew under Mike’s direction,” Walters said. “It’s a good group of young men with leaders who played hard week in and week out. But ultimately we fell short. If we were where we needed to be we wouldn’t be here right now, we’d be prepping for another playoff game and we’re not.

“Yes, organizationally we’re making strides in hosting a playoff game, and back-to-back double-digit win seasons are good, but falling short again in the playoffs is concerning. For us to take the next step organizationally we need to win a playoff game.”

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